Lights of the Season
Well, that was fun! A warm camaraderie blanketed the LDI trade show as we greeted long-missed friends in the aisles, on the way to checking out new products at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
A favorite destination in Las Vegas is the Bellagio Conservatory, which undergoes a changing of the seasons with thematic garden displays. This year, the area was roped off and crowds gathered to watch crews transform it from fall to the winter theme of Gingerbread Dreams, A Holiday Confection. A team of 80 workers spent six days constructing the free walk-through display. As cranes moved a candied cottage and techs tested the 110,000 energy-efficient lights on the trees, one considers all the seasonal jobs requiring workers with varied skill sets. The staffing shortage is still very real all year long—and many of the exhibitors at LDI were advertising job openings and actually accepting applications on site. Cirque du Soleil and the Carnival Cruise Lines even set up their own booths at the show to actively recruit for their touring productions on the road and on the high seas. One exhibitor set up a photo booth offering free professional resume photos for job-seekers. Those looking for work might click into the websites of LDI exhibitors to discover what job positions are in need of filling.
These temporary holiday displays are playing out everywhere. Drive-through lighting trails and light art installations are setting up, and holiday tours are heading out on the road. River banks and waterways, hiking paths, parklands, and of course asphalt parking lots are coming alive and brightening the night with the sights and sounds of the season. It’s fun visiting these magical wonderlands, and satisfying seeing well-known products play key roles in these productions. But even a simple string of fairy lights or festoons flying overhead can turn an empty space into a celebration, and studies show that looking at decorations can make people happier. Whether you celebrate any of our many holidays or not, I hope you can still enjoy the lights of the season.
Debi Moen, Co-Editor
What Comes Next
Once again, another tradeshow is in the books. For as much anticipation as there was coming up to LDI 2022, it was over in a flash. As I reflect back on all of the conversations, I am excited for what comes next. As Technical Editor for Lighting Dimensions and Theatre Crafts magazines, I was on Pat MacKay’s team that put on the first LDI in Dallas back in 1988. Over the years, I have missed one or two, but I was happy to again return this year. And like every LDI, I leave looking forward to covering all the new shows, immersive events, concerts, broadcasts, and projects that people are excited to share with colleagues. As ever there was a lot of interesting new technology and products to see, but most importantly, there were a lot of people to see from all segments of the industry. And though rebounding from the ‘Covid Pause’ is still an ongoing effort, much of the talk had moved on to speaking of projects and products once more. It was great to catch up with friends from my nearly 40 years in the industry, as well as shaking hands with people that I have only met online in the past three years.
Speaking of longevity, it was my great pleasure for this issue [pg. 26] to speak with the co-founders—Robert and Don Carone, Robin Shaw—as well as John Huddleston on the occasion of Upstaging’s 50th anniversary! They share their reflections on Upstaging’s beginnings and how the company grew alongside the touring industry. Several designers, production managers, and manufacturers also share warm wishes to the renowned lighting and trucking company.
Looking back over the many changes in the industry over the decades, I also realized that some things don’t change, some things are the core of our industry. Teamwork, hard work, ingenuity, innovation, and passion. And those are the reasons that I look forward to seeing what comes next from the ever-inventive imaginations of all of you in our industry. Here is a toast to us all as we head into 2023!
Michael S. Eddy, Co-Editor
